Toilet apparatus and method for disposing and sterilizing waste

ABSTRACT

Toilet apparatus for disposing waste including a compartment containing an oxidizing agent that contacts waste and causes an exothermic reaction that results in water evaporation, sterilization, and bad odor elimination.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a toilet apparatus fordisposing of human waste and the like and more particularly to animproved apparatus and method by which human waste may be disposedwithout contaminating the soil and using minimal amount of water tosterilize the toilet apparatus.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Incinerator toilets (http://www.storburn.ca/specs.html orhttp://www.incinolet.com/aboutus_(—)2.htm) have been developed whichsterilize organic waste, but typically end up with solids and liquidsthat require disposal in a central waste treatment system. U.S. Pat. No.6,455,751 describes a gel composition containing oxidizing agents andthickening or gelling agents, which are used to detoxify chemical andbiological agents by application directly to a contaminated area. Thegelling agent is a colloidal material, such as silica, alumina, oralumino-silicate clays, which forms a viscous gel that does not flowwhen applied to tilted or contoured surfaces. Aqueous or organicsolutions of oxidizing agents can be readily gelled with less than about30% colloidal material. Gel preparation is simple and suitable for fieldimplementation, as the gels can be prepared at the site ofdecontamination and applied quickly and uniformly over an area by asprayer. After decontamination, the residue can be washed away orvacuumed up for disposal.

Volatile organic compounds are removed from contaminated soil byintroducing one or both a water soluble peroxygen compound, such as apersulfate, and a permanganate into the soil, either in situ or ex situ,in amounts and under conditions wherein both the soil oxidant demand issatisfied and volatile organic compounds in the soil are oxidized (U.S.Pat. No. 6,019,548).

The following is believed to be representative of the prior art fordisposal of organic waste: U.S. Pat. Nos. 955,908; 3,370,787; 3,986,744;4,205,869; 4,272,116; 4,440,410; 4,875,729; 4,896,912; 5,134,974;5,156,427; 5,394,833; 5,400,572; 5,511,682; 5,713,616; 6,227,149;6,505,578.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention seeks to provide improved toilet apparatus andmethods for disposing human waste by means of oxidation, as describedmore in detail herein below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be understood and appreciated more fully fromthe following detailed description, taken in conjunction with thedrawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustration of toilet apparatus, constructedand operative in accordance with a non-limiting embodiment of thepresent invention.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Reference is now made to FIG. 1, which illustrates toilet apparatus 10,constructed and operative in accordance with a non-limiting embodimentof the present invention.

Toilet apparatus 10 includes a toilet bowl 12, from which solid andliquid waste is conveyed to a waste compartment 14. The toilet apparatusmay have separate solid 14S and liquid 14L (e.g., urine) receivingcompartments.

An oxidizer is added to the solid waste from an oxidizing dispenser 16.A mixer 18 may be provided for mixing the oxidizer and the waste.Oxidation of organic matter can be accomplished by contacting a strongoxidizing agent, such as but not limited to, potassium permanganate. Theexothermic reaction results in water evaporation, sterilization, badodor elimination which is typically a result of reducedsulfur-containing compounds and even burning. The solid waste isoxidized into dry ash.

Any water evaporated during the reaction is collected by a condenser 20.Condenser 20 may include a thermoelectric device 22 (e.g.,thermoelectric electrodes) that uses the Peltier effect and thetemperature difference between warm and cold portions of the condenserto generate electricity to charge a battery 24 to operate a pump 26 orany other electrical device, such as but not limited to, a light 29 inthe toilet stall. Pump 26 may direct the condensed water collected bycondenser 20 to a water reservoir 28 for re-use in the toilet bowl 12.In addition, one or more solar panels 30 may be installed to assist inelectric operation and sustainability of the toilet apparatus.

The dry ash is disposed on site or collected by a separate container.The urine is mixed with the oxidizer and then transferred to waterreservoir 28, either together with the condensate or separately. Thewater in reservoir 28, which includes an effective amount of oxidizer,is utilized to wash and sterilize the waste collecting compartment 14 oftoilet apparatus 10. The waste is separated again to solid and liquidreceiving compartments and the cycle starts all over again.

Thus the present invention has several advantages. The water used in thesystem is recycled. The water in the solid waste is recovered and thewater in the urine is sterilized and recovered. The toilet apparatus issterile and free of bad odors. The solid ash, which may be collected ina removable canister, is in small amounts, sterile, and may be disposedon site.

In the present invention, toilet paper and the like can be used andthrown into the lavatory. The process of the invention will mix thesolid waste (feces and paper) with the oxidizer in the same container,turning the solid waste into ash. There is no need for any sewerage orelectricity infrastructures or connections. The oxidizer can bereplenished in dispenser 16 perhaps once a month at a very low cost.

1. Toilet apparatus comprising: a toilet bowl; a waste compartment towhich waste is conveyed from said toilet bowl; and an oxidizingdispenser that dispenses an oxidizer to waste in said waste compartment,said oxidizer reacting with the waste to form an exothermic reactionthat results in water evaporation, and a condenser that collects waterevaporated during the exothermic reaction.
 2. The toilet apparatusaccording to claim 1, further comprising a mixer for mixing the oxidizerand the waste.
 3. The toilet apparatus according to claim 1, whereinsaid waste compartment comprises separate solid and liquid compartments.4. The toilet apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a pumpthat directs condensed water collected by said condenser to a waterreservoir for re-use in said toilet bowl.
 5. The toilet apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein said condenser comprises a thermoelectricdevice that uses a temperature difference between warm and cold portionsof said condenser to generate electricity.
 6. The toilet apparatusaccording to claim 5, wherein said thermoelectric device charges abattery to operate a pump or a light.
 7. The toilet apparatus accordingto claim 1, further comprising one or more solar panels to assist inelectric operation of the toilet apparatus.